Coolio, the rapper behind iconic '90s hit 'Gangsta's Paradise', has died aged 59.
The musician's longtime manager Jarez Posey has confirmed his death to outlets including the Associated Press and Variety.
Entertainment news website TMZ reports he died in a friend's bathroom in Los Angeles on Wednesday (local time), where he was found laying on the floor.
TMZ also reports law enforcement services say there does not appear to be signs of foulplay, and no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found at the scene.
US website Page Six says Coolio was pronounced dead on the scene after a suspected cardiac arrest.
An official cause of death has not been announced.
Fellow hit '90s rapper Vanilla Ice was one of the first celebrities to reference Coolio's death online.
"I'm freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away," the 'Ice Ice Baby' hitmaker tweeted.
Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr, gained fame when his song 'Gangsta's Paradise' was used in the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, which starred Michelle Pfeiffer.
'Gangsta's Paradise' spent 18 weeks in the New Zealand charts in October 1995, peaking at number one.
The rapper was last in New Zealand in June 2017 for the I Love the 90s Tour, which took place at Auckland's Trusts Arena. He played the venue with fellow rap icons, including Tone Loc, Color Me Badd and Salt'n'Pepa.
